How to play Reversi
Place a disc to flank one or more opposing discs in a straight line. Every trapped disc flips to your color.
- 1
Choose a legal square
Highlighted circles mark moves that capture at least one line of discs. If you have no legal move you must pass.
- 2
Flip outward
Every straight line trapped between your new disc and an existing disc turns to your color—horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
- 3
Lock in stable discs
Corners and edges that cannot be flipped anchor your lead. Trade early flips for long-term stability.
Quick tips
- Open in the center to keep mobility; early edge moves usually hand corners to your opponent.
- Watch for 'X' and 'C' squares near corners—play them only when they flip safely into a corner.
- When neither side has moves, the player with more discs wins; tempo and parity decide the final turns.
Tap a highlighted square to place your disc. Use Auto Play when you want to sit back.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Reversi?
- Reversi (also called Othello) is a two-player strategy board game played on an 8×8 grid. Players take turns placing discs that flip the opponent's discs when trapped between two of your own. The player with the most discs when the board is full wins.
- How do I play Reversi online?
- Click any highlighted square on the board to place your disc. The AI opponent plays automatically after your move. Use the Hint button if you are unsure of the best move. Use Auto Play to watch the AI play both sides.
- What are the best Reversi opening moves?
- Play toward the center in the opening to maximize mobility. Avoid giving your opponent corner access — corners are permanent and cannot be flipped. The C-squares (adjacent diagonally to corners) and X-squares (adjacent to corners) are dangerous early unless they lead directly to a corner capture.
- How does the AI work in Free Reversi?
- The AI uses a minimax search with alpha-beta pruning and a position evaluation function that weighs mobility, corner control, stability, and disc parity. At higher difficulty levels the search goes deeper and plays close to optimal Reversi strategy.
- Is Free Reversi free to play?
- Yes. Free Reversi is completely free, runs in your browser, and requires no sign-up, download, or account. All game logic runs locally — nothing is sent to a server.
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